7 dead, 2 missing after ship crashes in Italy

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Rescue workers inspected the scene of a damaged control tower in the port of Genoa on Wednesday.

By NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press
May 09, 2013

ROME — Italian prosecutors placed the captain of the Jolly Nero cargo ship under investigation Wednesday for alleged manslaughter after his vessel slammed into the dock at Genoa’s busy port and toppled the control tower into the harbor, killing at least seven people.

As rescue teams in diving suits searched for two other missing people, officials began piecing together how the 40-ton container ship could have sideswiped the port’s control tower when weather and sea conditions were ‘‘perfect’’ on Tuesday night.

At the same time, a shift change was taking place among employees at the control tower, meaning more people were in the building than usual.

Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi told Parliament that given the ‘‘perfect’’ weather conditions, possible causes of the crash could include an engine malfunction or problems with the cables between the container ship and the tugs guiding it. He said investigators — both criminal and from his own ministry — were also looking into possible mistakes with the maneuver itself or with the speed in which the ship backed out of its berth and turned around to leave the port.

The Jolly Nero’s captain, Roberto Paoloni, and the harbor pilot on board were placed under investigation for alleged manslaughter, Genoa prosecutor Michele di Lecce told reporters. He said other accusations were possible.